Their friendship began thanks to Marie Blanton, Gunnar’s owner and a trainer at the centre. And according to Marie, it was love at first sight.
“When Gunnar first went on the docks, I was expecting him to bark,” Marie said. “But he did the exact opposite – he just lay down and watched.”
Love at first sight
From that moment, Delta was smitten. “Every time I brought Gunnar down, Delta was the first dolphin over to the dock. He would bring him toys to play with.”
Their bond grew stronger with each visit, and before long, Gunnar was visiting his aquatic friend several times a week. The two even had their own ritual greeting – a sweet little kiss at the water’s edge.
Best friends for life
These days, visits are a little less frequent. Delta now spends more time educating centre visitors about dolphin conservation, while Gunnar has taken on equally important cuddling duties at home.
But whenever they do reunite, it’s as though no time has passed – a touching reminder of a truly special friendship that continues to warm hearts.
